Publication

This paper will look at how a nation in the 21st Century knows when it is at war, and how this knowledge can help that nation to respond properly and comprehensively, ensure that the right response options are available to meet new threats, and consider the best balance of national response options which may involve the reallocation of existing defence, diplomatic and security resources and budgets. I will examine the indicators old and new that tell us when a nation is at war. And I will consider how these might guide us towards deciding whether a war is worth waging and if so how to wage it effectively. This will lead to five recommendations for Australia.